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The stranger pinched so it between his claws He gave a soft, satisfied snort

"That rather washes the fatigues of the day away," DharSii said "Are you sure you won’t have some? Don’t worry, it’s gy mushroom or eed"

AuRon wondered if it was some trick

"No, thank you"

DharSii put his cylinder away "I’ve heard of you A dragon naainst the ons It’s an honor to hting," AuRon said, unco him "What is the Sadda-Vale?"

"The home of some distant cousins of mine A remote spot in the north, east of the Red Mountains--you do know the Red Mountains?"

"You’ll fight a cold wind," AuRon said

"I’ve fought worse I have just completed a war for the Ghioz"

"The Ghioz pay well? My island is poor in ht so, once But the proble, and scale is that they te to another I’ht, I shall have the choosing of on named Wistala was also hired at soh AuRon had snapped at him

"Wistala?"

His usual loquacity seeoes by Tala," AuRon said So about the red’s manner drove AuRon to caution; he decided the less he revealed, the better for all This DharSii must not know they were brother and sister or he would have said so "She’s an old ally of on-isleI believe she long thought I was dead"

"I have very bad news for you She fell in battle But a h it had dropped out of his chest and lay pulsing on the thorns below

"I fear" DharSii began "I fear the demen killed her She fell down a chas, and AuRon saw torn scale, fresh-healed wounds still weeping, and blackened ht have been burns

AuRon tried to find words

Red Stripe read hisI saw no body I do not know absolutely that she is dead I left her athat she is to coets out of that hole Circuhters forced ine what another dragon ether are one of onelle," AuRon said

"You admired that too, did you? Did she consider you for--"

"Oh, there wasn’t a thought of enerous mind I doubt she would have refused you on that account She would adapt"

The use of Father’s maxim--that he must adapt to new circumstances--rather shocked him Had this DharSii been close to Wistala? Why wouldn’t he say if they were mated? He had worn the expression of one who had lost a mate ever since her name had arisen

"I--I’m mated already," AuRon said This DharSii had a quick mind, and it would occur to him that just because he wasBut he showed no sign of it

"I am happy to hear it Is there a clutch?"

"Our first, just over their first year"

He tore up ground with one sii as he spoke "My coht to the Sadda-Vale, I would offer you hospitality with s"

"I could use an introduction in Ghioz I’d like a chance at earning a harness of coin myself As I said, our island is poor in s"

For the first time since Wistala’s nahtful

"This isn’t--this isn’t another infiltration"